The Center for Contemplative Practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Month: August 2024
THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH: My New Catholic Church made in my image and likeness.
If you have read my other two blogs, you will know I am perusing the notion of an Institutional Church or organized religion. In all candor, I only have two choices, the existing institutional church, which has ties going back to Jesus, or an… Continue Reading “THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH: My New Catholic Church made in my image and likeness.”
THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH: THE CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC ANARCHIST.
This blog is part of chain-Lectio Divina meditations prompted by my most recent gathering of the Lay Cistercians of Our Lady of the Holy Cross Monastery (Trappist) in Conyers, Georgia. It is the second in a series of three meditations downloaded to me by… Continue Reading “THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH: THE CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC ANARCHIST.”
THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH: Search its depths rather than throwing it all out.
This blog is from my past Lectio Divina meditations on why the Catholic Church is a mystery and seeming contradiction, but one worth exploring its complexities rather than a cursory abandonment because of one or two issues you may have with it. THE CORRUPTIBILITY… Continue Reading “THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH: Search its depths rather than throwing it all out.”
A LECTIO DIVINA FOR ALL SEASONS
I have morphed my approach to Lectio Divina over the years, growing deeper without noticing it. For example, the typical states of Lection I learned as a novice Lay Cistercian (and believe me I am still a Novice Lay Cistercian), were: a. lectio —… Continue Reading “A LECTIO DIVINA FOR ALL SEASONS”
PROVOKE THE HOLY SPIRIT AT THE RISK OF GETTING WHAT YOU ASKED FOR.
I should have known better, but I did it anyway. My latest Lectio Divina was one hour ago, sitting in the dentist’s chair, waiting for her to come in to start drilling. As always, I begin with Philippians 2:5 (“Have in you the mind… Continue Reading “PROVOKE THE HOLY SPIRIT AT THE RISK OF GETTING WHAT YOU ASKED FOR.”
Journeying to Heaven: Symbolism of The Way, The Truth, and The Life Coins
A REVIEW OF MY COIN COLLECTION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT If you think I have it all together, know that I am reviewing the coin parables mainly because I forget what they were, and it helps me refocus on The Christ Principle. I use… Continue Reading “Journeying to Heaven: Symbolism of The Way, The Truth, and The Life Coins”
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